Adams State conducting research to support enrollment growth

(01-31-2011)

This month, Adams State College will conduct focus groups and surveys of various constituent groups as part of a research project designed to help the college achieve targeted enrollment growth, according to Dr. Michael Mumper, senior vice president for Enrollment Management & Program Development.

"Our goal is to produce data to support sensible growth in enrollment. This research will help us develop more long term and sustainable revenue streams to offset state funding cuts," Mumper said. The consulting firm Noel-Levitz is working with ASC to conduct the enrollment growth research project.

Dr. Michael Mumper

In February, phone and online surveys will be conducted of Adams State alumni, area high school counselors, school district professional development directors, and community college transfer coordinators. Focus groups of faculty, students and staff will be conducted on campus Feb. 16. All employees and students will be asked to complete an online survey toward the end of February.

"This research is intended to produce enrollment increases into the foreseeable future," Mumper added. "That growth will correspond to the campus-wide enrollment targets laid out in the new Strategic Plan. The plan sets very specific - and quite aggressive - enrollment growth targets - including adding 150 undergraduate students and 100 graduate students during the next two years."

He said the research objectives include:

Developing more long-term and sustainable revenue streams to offset state funding cuts

Identifying new graduate and undergraduate programs with potential for sustainable demand

Improving recruiting techniques

Expanding transfer student recruitment

"The research data will help us determine which new graduate programs would be attractive, how to improve recruiting techniques, and how to expand transfer student recruitment," Mumper explained. "Also, we need to re-establish ASC as the premier provider of professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers and staff in Colorado, but to do so, we need to know precisely what type of programs they want and what forms and venues are most attractive."